Britain’s Government &
Policy-Making
Section 3
AP Comparative Government
Mr. Saliani
Organization of the State
► Parliamentary Sovereignty (1) – Parliament can make
or overturn any law; the executive, the judiciary, and the
throne are powerless against parliamentary action.
► The Prime Minister (PM) is answerable to the House of
Commons and may be dismissed by it.
► British sovereignty is somewhat limited due to agreements
with the European Union.
► Britain is a unitary state (2) – authority rests in the
central government. Quasi-federal system was created
under the Blair government through delegation
(devolution) of specified powers to Scottish Parliament,
Welsh Assembly & returning to N. Ireland.
Organization of the State (pg 2)
► Fusion of powers at the national level (3) – Parliament is
the supreme legislative, executive and judicial authority
and includes the monarch as well as the House of
Commons and the House of Lords.
► British cabinet has enormous constitutional responsibility
and makes decisions collectively. (cabinet government)
► Britain is a constitutional monarchy and power rests with
the Queen-in-Parliament (the formal term for Parliament).
► The Queen is the head of state (4) which passes through
hereditary succession. Governmental/state officials must
exercise nearly all of the powers of the Crown.
Some questions to ponder…
1. Can a PM overstep the generally agreed- upon limits of
the collective responsibility of the cabinet and achieve an
undue concentration of power? How?
2. How well has the British model of government stood the
test of time and radically changed circumstances?
3. Is it THE model democracy?
4. What are its strengths and weaknesses?
5. What influence has the Westminster model had globally?
What questions do you have?
The Executive
The executive reaches beyond the cabinet
government whose key functions are
policymaking, supreme control of the
government and coordination of all
government departments to the ministries
(departments) and ministers to the civil
service and to Parliament.
Cabinet Government
► Post-general election the Crown invites the leader of the
party with control of the majority of seats in the House of
Commons to form a government and serve as PM.
► PM usually selects about two dozen ministers to constitute
the cabinet. Some major assignments are the Foreign
Office (Sec of State), the Home Office (Attorney General) &
the chancellor of the exchequer (Treasury Secretary).
► Cabinet has immense responsibilities such as formulating
policy to put before Parliament and supreme directing body
of the executive branch.
► British constitutional tradition requires overlapping
membership in both the cabinet and Parliament.
10 Downing Street
► Prime Minister’s official residence and location of the
cabinet room. http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/Page1.asp
► Cabinet can be perceived as loyal followers or ideological
combatants, potential challengers for party leadership, &
parochial advocates for pet projects that run counter to the
overall objectives of the government.
► The convention of collective responsibility normally ensures
the continuity of government by unifying the cabinet. In
principle, the PM must gain the support of the majority of
the cabinet for a range of major decisions, notably budget
and legislative programs.
► The other constitutional mechanism to check the PM is a
defeat on a vote of no confidence in the HoC.
► Does collective responsibility limit or empower the PM?
Cabinet Government
► Power of the cabinet has been limited by
PMs (from Thatcher to Blair to Brown?)
► Let’s explore the cabinet system (Figure 4)
► Power is concentrated at the top with no
gridlock (as in Washington)
► Is the PM the “Queen bee” in the hive?
Reactions to 10 Downing St. Website
► Impressed?
► Content?
► Political Angle?
► Style?
► Extras?
► Other Comments?
Bureaucracy & Civil Service
► Civil Servants (not elected government employees) play an
integral role with cabinet ministers.
► Civil Servants (CS) in Britain do much of the
conceptualizing and refining legislation that is done by
committee staffers in the U.S. Congress.
► Mistrust is common between CS and ministers as they have
differing agendas, concerns and fears.
► CS are servants of the Crown but not part of the
government.
► Ministers, not CS, have const. responsibility for policy & are
answerable to Parliament for conduct of their departments.
► CS has been downsized in recent years, jobs outsourced.
► Concerns of pol. neutrality & impartiality recently raised.
Semipublic Institutions
► Def – entities sanctioned by the state but without
direct democratic oversight.
► Nationalized industries replaced by Semipublic
administrative orgs)
► Nondepartmental Public Bodies (NPPBs) aka quasi-
nongovernmental organizations (Quangos) have
been growing in number since the 1970’s.
► Quangos are popular due to the fact that they are
responsible for special functions combining
governmental & private sector expertise. Ministers
can also distance themselves from controversial
areas of policy.
Semipublic Institutions (2)
► By late 1990’s over 6000 quangos existed.
► Responsible for 1/3 of all public spending.
► Key areas of public policy have shifted from
local governments to quangos (non-
elected).
► Reform of quangos taking place nationally.
What are the concerns?
Why are they controversial?
British Military
► Ranked in top 5 military powers
► 1982 - Falklands/Malvinas Islands War - UK
Defeated Argentina
► 1991 - Gulf War - Deployed full armored division
► 1998 - Aerial bombing of Iraq
► 1999 - Supported NATO’s Kosovo campaign
► Blair’s “doctrine of international community” was
used as justification for war on Iraq he connected
it to Kosovo and the idea of overthrowing dictators
► Use of military until Iraq generated mild opposition
► The British military’s conduct has generally been
viewed as positive under the circumstances
Police
► Traditionally operated as independent forces
throughout the country, but transition to
centralization, government control, and
political use has taken place.
► Concerns over partisan use of police force
and police conduct in recent years.
The Judiciary
► Parliamentary sovereignty has limited the role of the
judiciary as courts do not have the power to judge the
constitutionality of legislative acts (judicial review)
► Limited to determine whether policy directives or
administrative acts violate common law or acts of
Parliament - U.S.
► Jurists have participated in the wider political debate
outside of court - Thoughts?
► Blair’s plan to abolish the office of Lord Chancellor and
move the law lords from the House of Lords to a new
“supreme court” failed in the HoL.
► The European dimension has also influenced law and and
administration of justice, Britain must abide the European
Court of Justice (ECJ)
Subnational Government
► Since the UK is comprised of four distinct nations
(England, Scotland, Wales, & N. Ireland), the
distribution of powers involves two levels below
the central government: national and local
(municipal) government.
► Due to unitary government no formal powers
devolved to the national/subnational units.
► Devolution - In 1999, the Scottish Parliament,
National Assembly for Wales and Northern Ireland
Assembly were established.
► Ken Livingstone is the popular mayor of London
who has introduced several controversial policies.
The Policy-Making Process
► Whitehall, not Westminster is in charge of policy-
making & policy-implementation.
► Policy-making emerges from the executive not
parliament. (Ministers, civil servants, & members
of the policy communities work through informal
ties)
► EU authority has had a major impact (more than
80% of the rules governing economic life in Britain
are determined by the EU).
► How are the UK-EU relations going to develop?